Automatic firearm



Sept. l, 1953 H. LIPPERT ErAL AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed J'une 27, 194e/fdl film 7/ IN1/w Toes bhw/muffa?? 5TM y l fw /fTToz/VEYJ PatentedSept. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENE FFECE AUTOMATIC FIREARM Oerlikon,Switzerland Application June 27, 1946, Serial No. 679,599 In SwitzerlandJuly 6, 1945 4 Claims. l

In certain types of automatic firearms the barrel together with thebreech casing slides within a chamber or outer casing. This lattercasing, in its turn, is mounted by easily detachable means on a base,for instance a cradle, r in the engine in the case of motor guns, etc.Besides housing the moving parts and connecting the weapon with itsbase, however, the outer casing serves other purposes, controlling inthe first place the breech block locking operation by means of curvedgrooves, stops and similar elements with which it is equipped. Finally,the trigger mechanism, the trigger buffer springs and the ammunitionfeed frame are also fitted on the outer casing.

In newer designs, breech block mechanisms are to be found which are nolonger controlled by means fitted in the outer casing, whereby one ofthe essential functions of such casing is eliminated.

The present invention relates to an automatic firearm in which, bytaking into due consideration the fact that the outer casing no longeracts as breech block control means, a considerably simpler design ismade possible. The automatic rearm according to the present invention ischaracterised by the feature that the outer casing, now merely designedas top slide bar of the breech casing, which latter glides with itsbottom face directly on the cradle carries the trigger mechanismtogether with its buffer spring system, and the ammunition feed frame.

A frame for ammunition belt feed may be fitted on the trigger casing, orelse a magazine may be inserted in the ammunition feed frame. The outercasing designed as top slide bar for the breech casing is suitablyconnected with the cradle.

The face that the outer casing is now merely shaped as a slide bar makesa substantial reduction in the total weight possible, since-in View ofthe fact that trigger mechanism and ammunition feed frame are rigidlyconnected with the cradle-the weight of the moving parts can be reducedalso.

The accompanying drawing shows in Figs. 1-5 two constructional examplesof realisation of the present invention. In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a lirearm in `which theammunition feed is effected by a belt, schematically represented;

Fig. 2, a section along line II-lI in Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3, a section along the line III-III in Figs. 1 and 4, on anenlarged scale with the breech block in its forward position;

Fig. 4, a section along line IV-IV in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, the firearm according to Fig. 1, with inserted magazine.

The barrel I is inserted in known manner, as by means of a bayonetjoint, in the breech casing 2. The breech casing 2 slides by way ofextensions d and 5 in corresponding guides 6 and 'I on the cradle 3. Thesliding movement of the breech casing 2 on the cradle 3 takes placeagainst the pressure of the spring 8 guided on a rod 9 and bearing atits rear end against the cradle 3, and at the other end engaging a lugI0 depending from the barrel I and projecting through the cradle guide6.

Within the breech casing 2 is tted the breech block II. The principle ofthe breech block, not particularly described here, can be assumed to bethat of gas-operated rearm of known type; it may also be a one-piecebreech block, locked by stored-up power and unlocked by the barrelrecoil. The breech block I I is spring-loaded by the recuperating springI2 supported in the breech casing.

The cradle 3 includes an arm I3 to which is fixed, by means of a boltI5, the outer casing I4 now merely constituting the slide bar of thebreech casing. The bolt I5 slides, by means of a round guide piece I6,in a hole I'I of the arm I3, and is spring-loaded by the spring I8. Acap I9 rigidly connected with the bolt serves to loosen the bolt I5 fromthe outer casing Ill, and consequently the casing I 4 from the cradle 3.The casing I includes the trigger casing 20 containing a trigger ofknown design which need not be more particularly described here. Theammunition feed frame 2i is also rigidly connected with the triggercasing.

In the constructional example according to Figs. 1 and 4, ammunition isfed in belts, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The individual cartridges 22are arranged in belt elements 23. The working of the belt feed is seenin greater detail in Figs. 3 and 4 A part 2d rigidly connected with thebarrel and the breech casing, catches with a pin 25 into a correspondingrecess of a lever 26. The lever 26 is rotatingly seated on a pin 21 andcatches with a finger-shaped projection 28 into the slot 29 of a slide30. The slide 30 is displaceably fitted in the casing I4, i. e. in theammunition feed frame 2I rigidly connected with it. The slide 30actuates two feeding pawls 3| which move the belt one step forward aftereach round. A check pawl 32 is tted in the ammunition feed frame 2 I.

The working of this known cartridge feeding device is briefly asfollows:

At the release of each shot, the part 24 rigidly connected with thebarrel and the breech casing moves in the direction indicated by thearrow (Fig. 4) Thereupon, the pin 25 swings the lever 255 round the axis2l, thus causing the slide 30, through the finger-shaped projection 28guided in the slot 29, to move in the direction indicated by an arrow.This causes, through the action of the feeding pawls 3i, the belt tomove one cartridge forward. t

Fig. 5 Ishows an ammunition magazine V33V i`n serted in known manner inthe ammunition feed frame 2i fitted to the outer casing I4.

rThe constructional examples are rmerely schematically represented anddescribed above only insofar as their essential parts are concerned. AfullerV description is not needed, since the principle of theinvention-characterized by the feature that thel outer casing is nowdesigned merely as top slide bar for the breech casing, and has fittedto it the trigger casing. and the ammunition feed frame, suitablev bothfor belt and magazine cartridge feed-can be applied in firearms ofvarious designs'. The same applies to the trigger, which does not califor any particular explanation either,A since widely different designscan be usedwithin the scope of the principle of the invention.

We claim:

l. In. an automatic'frea-rm., the combination of an outer casing in:thev form of a laterally open structure, and consisting essentially ofan upper portion anda bottom cradle portion,` ay laterally accessiblebreech block casingy movable axially within the; outer casing, andsupported slidably on the cradle portionv and sliding on the innersurface of the upper portionrof the outer casing, a breech blockslidabl'eaxially within the breech block casing, thel breech casing andouter casing, and likewise` the breech block and breech block casinghaving intertting rectilinear guide elements whereby the breech: blockcasing and the breech block move parallel to' the longitudinal axis ofthe firearm for the full extent eftheir movements, trigger mechanismandA a buffer spring system therefor, both carried by the outer casing,and a cartridge feed frame likewise carried by said outer casing.

2. The combination as defined in claim l, wherein the cartridge feedframe is constructed to receive a cartridge belt and is fitted on thetrigger casing. K

3. The combination as defined in claim 1, including a magazinepositioned in the cartridge feed frame.

4. In an automatic firearm, the combination of an upper trackway and abottom cradle of substantialllyfiat construction and extending paralleltov each other and provided with fiat, rectilinear, parallel guidcwaysextending in the axial direction, the trackway and cradle being spacedfrom and connected with each other in such manner that the spacetherebetween is accessible from both sides, said trackway and cradlethereby forming a skeleton outer casing, a breech block casingY of.substantially retangular form Iand provided with trackY members slidingin said guide- Ways, a breechblock slidable axially Within the breechcasing, said breech and breech block casin gl being likewise providedkwith intertting rectilinear guide elements whereby the breech block'moves parallel to the longitudinal axis of the firearm for the fullextent of its movement, trigger mechanism and abuffer spring. systemtherefor, both carried byj the outer casing, and a cartridgefeed framelikewise carried by said outer casing.. I. 4 y Y ERWI-N HEPPERLE.

References Cited in the file f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Numberame- Date @783,577 Mascarucci Dec. 2, 1930 aemas Dobremyn Jan. 16, 19452379.126571; Nielson-; e- July 3, 1945 2,389,950 DbIeIiySl NOV. 2.7',1945

